Star Report
Pacific Conservatory Theatre is soon to present a tale as old as time, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast running from November 3 – December 23 in Santa Maria’s Marian Theatre, then under the stars in the Solvang Festival Theater June 15 – July 2, 2017.
This classical musical love story is a magical tale that comes to life with unforgettable characters, astonishing sets and costumes, and a stunning score including familiar favorites, “Be Our Guest”, “Gaston”, “Human Again” and the Tony-winning title song, “Beauty and the Beast”.
“This story hopes for and believes things that I hope for and believe, that beauty is found within. That who you are inside is more important than your appearance. It’s also a story that says redemption is possible, even when you’ve made a horrible mistake. I think this story is supposed to change us. To make us more likely to look at someone’s heart before their hairdo, to see if a smile is a mask for malevolence, to see if a roar is a danger sign or a lonely cry. And, it reminds us that it’s almost never too late to say ‘I love you’,” Director Mark Booher said.
Beauty and the Beast cast includes Acting Intern Annali Fuchs as Belle, along with Resident Artists Matt Koenig as Beast, George Walker as Gaston, Peter S. Hadres as Maurice, Michael Jenkinson as Cogsworth, Andrew Philpot as Lumiere, Erik Stein as Baker/Msr. D’Arque, Kitty Balay as Mrs. Potts, and Guest Artists Katie Wackowski and Bree Murphy as Babette, and Wardrobe respectively.
The creative team, under the direction of Mark Booher, includes Choreographer Michael Jenkinson, Associate Choreographer Katie Wackowski, Music Director Brad Carroll, Scenic Designer Jason Bolen, Costume Designer Judith A. Ryerson, Lighting Designer Elisabeth Weidner, Sound Engineer Andrew Mark Wilhelm, and Equity Production Stage Manager Ellen Beltramo.
While a U.S. touring production of Beauty and the Beast just concluded this past summer, Disney is nearing the release date of a live action version of the story in March of 2017 featuring Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Stanley Tucci in the newly created role of Cadenza.
For more info visit: www.pcpa.org
